Тарзан, приёмыш обезьян
At the Mercy of the Jungle
Andnowtherecamethesoundofaheavybodybrushingagainstthesideofthecabin.Shecouldhearthegreatpaddedpawsuponthegroundoutside.Foraninstant,allwassilence;eventhebedlamoftheforestdiedtoafaintmurmur.Thenshedistinctlyheardthebeastoutsidesniffingatthedoor,nottwofeetfromwhereshecrouched.Instinctivelythegirlshuddered,andshrankclosertotheblackwoman.
"Hush!"shewhispered."Hush,Esmeralda,"forthewoman’ssobsandgroansseemedtohaveattractedthethingthatstalkedtherejustbeyondthethinwall.
Agentlescratchingsoundwasheardonthedoor.Thebrutetriedtoforceanentrance;butpresentlythisceased,andagainsheheardthegreatpadscreepingstealthilyaroundthecabin.Againtheystopped—beneaththewindowonwhichtheterrifiedeyesofthegirlnowgluedthemselves.
"God!"shemurmured,fornow,silhouettedagainstthemoonlitskybeyond,shesawframedinthetinysquareofthelatticedwindowtheheadofahugelioness.Thegleamingeyeswerefixeduponherinintentferocity.
"Look,Esmeralda!"shewhispered."ForGod’ssake,whatshallwedo?Look!Quick!Thewindow!"
Esmeralda,coweringstillclosertohermistress,tookonefrightenedglancetowardthelittlesquareofmoonlight,justasthelionessemittedalow,savagesnarl.
Thesightthatmetthepoorwoman’seyeswastoomuchforthealreadyoverstrungnerves.
